OUR JOURNEY: STATE 10-MD

08/15/2018 / Kendra Clapp

[PHOTOS BY: TYLER WAY]

In the matter of a couple of months, we went from clueless to almost-experts when it came to the set-up and tear down of the Airstream.

Although we had a great training session from our friends at Woodland Travel Center before we left in which I frantically recorded the most important part of trailer-life, hooking up, we really learned the most living and learning on the road.

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After state after state of practice by now, we were able to get our average set-up time within 15-30 minutes, depending on if it’s a partial or full set-up and how many attempts it takes us to back the trailer up into the parking space justttt right. Our greater efficiency was due to an unwritten set of responsibilities we eventually developed:

Tyler’s duties:

Unhooking the truck and trailer
Uninstalling the hitch
Setting up the “poop tube”

Kendra’s roles:

Leveling and stabilizing the trailer
Hooking up the water and electric
Pulling out the awnings

Noels’s responsibilities:

Overseeing the process
Looking cute
Sleeping

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We actually got to spend quite a bit of time in Maryland and the DMV area — three weeks to be exact. Since DC and Virginia are so close, we didn’t have to move the trailer for those projects but instead just drove “Queen Bee” to the project locations. We enjoy the quietness of Cherry Hill Park as Fall was fully settled-in. Even better, the park had a huge laundry facility and, a special treat for us, cable TV. Tyler was especially thrilled because that meant he could actually be able to watch football on the weekend!

Since it was later in the RV season and there weren’t many other campers or dogs, we took the opportunity to continue to try and “train” Noel to walk on a leash. We may have looked like crazy cat people walking around with her, but that’s a small price to pay to live your best life!

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We spent some time in Baltimore where walked along the water of the Chesapeake Bay, imagining a time not that long ago when Baltimore’s Inner Harbor was still a part of our young developing nation thanks in part to a growing population of immigrants alongside a growing list of industries. We learned that long before Europeans began venturing to this “new land,” it was home to the Piscataway tribe dating for the past 12,000 years.

Nowadays the Harbor is lined with tourist attractions including the Maryland Science Center and National Aquarium while shipbuilding docks and steelyards gave way to corporate headquarters, hotels, restaurants, shopping, and more.

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Among the museums and historical sites, we came across the USS Constellation, the Navy’s last sail-only ship that traveled all over the world and was also the Africa Squadron flagship, operating as part of the African Slave Patrol as efforts to end the Atlantic slave trade during the time of the Civil War.

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While we were in Baltimore, we also visited our friend, fellow Michigander, and previous HAS HEART Veteran participant, Eric Lund, at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Having recently undergone a double arm transplant, Eric was on week two of recovery and finally able to receive visitors. We had a great time catching up with him and his mom Laura. At the time, only one or two other double arm transplants had been successfully accomplished and we couldn’t have been happier for Eric and his family to experience this incredible blessing and opportunity.

You can read our previous blog post about Eric and follow his progress on his Facebook page that is purposefully updated to allow all those we served with him, cared, prayed, supported, and help him and his family out through this life-changing journey ever since his “Alive Day” in 2012.

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After finishing the DMV and Delaware state projects, we ended up back in Maryland but this time, along the Atlantic ocean. It was mid-November and surprisingly, a beautiful time to visit Assateague Island and National Seashore. I had come across the island a while back, completely in awe of the fact that it had wild horses. Beach + wild horses = yes, please.

There were literally two other RVs there so we had our pick of beachside spots to occupy for the short weekend. It didn’t take me long to grab a folding chair and put on my layers to catch up on some reading.

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Seizing the opportunity to bring his own hammock to the beach, Tyler was right behind me hauling the metal frame across the sand and up the small hill overlooking the ocean in front of us. Naturally, this seemed like a seating upgrade, so I took occupancy of it for a bit while he wandered around with his camera.

This is probably my favorite camping site we’ve stayed at. Maybe, I don’t know. Since it was November, it was practically empty and we were able to snag a site along the sand, looking out to the ocean. Falling asleep and waking up to ocean waves, as well as Noel crawling all over you, Assateague was my jam.

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Noel bb loved the campsite too and even got to explore outside. It was her first time feeling non-litterbox sand beneath her feet, let alone seeing, smelling, and feeling the ocean and its breeze!

After being a little freaked out by the crashing waves, she eventually settled down and went exploring along the currently desolate seashore.

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Recognizing the Airstream, she headed back to her home and happily hopped back in. I’m a proud cat mama.

To our surprise, the beach wasn’t a giant litter box to her. All she left were her ridiculously adorable paw prints.

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The second morning there, we were juuuuuust about to set out to go find the wild horses when… surprise, they were all around us! Legend has it, a boat carrying the horses was shipwrecked along the Atlantic, close enough for the horses to swim and survive on the island. It truly was a magical experience and I wasn’t even a horse-obsessed girl growing up.

Later we drove further down the island and found the pack again. HAY, horse.

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As the weather was trying to decide whether it was going to be blue skies or moody grey, we took it all in and walked along the empty beach for hours.

I recently had gotten my robe from The Robe Lives, fellow nomads and nutbags. I went to high school and played softball with Adrienne who co-founded the organization and brand. When you buy a robe (or whatever else, they are currently expanding their products), $40 goes directly to thecup.org, an organization that empowers adolescent girls, providing them basic needs, keeping them healthy, and keeping them in school. Although technically never very close, Adrienne’s fun, kind, and warm energy left an impression on me. She and her husband have been traveling the world for years and were definitely an inspiration while we were planning this tour. You can check out their adventures here!

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When we got back to our campsite for the sunset, the horses were back. It was seriously magical. That’s the only way I can put it. The photos speak for themselves.

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It was tough leaving the beautiful seashore of Assateague Island, but I tried to remind myself of the countless other places left to go, find, and enjoy. The last morning was spent snuggling and listening to the waves.

On our way out of the park and onto the next state, the horses lined the drive to send us off. At least that’s what we’re telling ourselves.